Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 10 010
Apply for FR RRD 10 010
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2010 Railroad System Issues Research Development Program Locomotive Biofuel Study and Bio based Lubrication Technologies for Railroad Applications" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.313 Railroad Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 7, 2010 and posted on May 13, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2010 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2010 Railroad System Issues Research and Development Program opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FR-RRD-10-010) was a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) discretionary grant competition under the U.S. Department of Transportation designed to fund two separate cooperative-agreement awards focused on practical, near-term research for locomotive operations: one award centered on biofuel use in locomotives and other diesel-powered railroad equipment, and the other focused on bio-based, readily biodegradable lubrication technologies for railroad applications. Together, these projects were meant to help the FRA develop credible, data-driven findings on whether and how alternative, more environmentally friendly fuels and lubricants could be adopted across freight and passenger rail without compromising safety, reliability, or performance.
The first grant area supported the “Locomotive Biofuel Study,” which was specifically authorized by Title IV, Section 404 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Division B of Public Law 110-432). Under that statute, FRA was directed to conduct the study in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, signaling that the research was expected to consider not only railroad operating realities but also energy policy and emissions/environmental implications. The core purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which freight railroads, Amtrak, and other passenger rail operators could use biofuel blends to power locomotives and other vehicles that run on diesel fuel. In practical terms, this implies an assessment of compatibility and impacts of blended fuels (for example, biodiesel blends) on locomotive engines and fuel systems, operational performance across duty cycles, fuel handling and storage concerns, cold-weather operability, maintenance impacts, and the broader feasibility of rail-sector adoption. The phrasing “to the extent” and “as appropriate” indicates the work was intended to be realistic about constraints, such as existing engine certifications, warranties, infrastructure limitations, and variability in rail operating environments.
The second grant area supported a “Study of the Use of Bio-based Technologies,” authorized by Section 405 of the same 2008 law. This portion focused on the feasibility of using readily biodegradable lubricants in freight and passenger rail settings, including locomotives, rolling stock, and other railroad equipment. The emphasis on “readily biodegradable” points to an environmental-performance objective, particularly relevant for lubricants that can be released to the environment through leaks, spills, or routine equipment operation in sensitive areas. The intended research focus was feasibility, which typically includes questions such as whether bio-based lubricants can meet railroad performance requirements (wear protection, thermal stability, oxidation resistance, water tolerance, seal compatibility, and service life), how they behave under high-load and variable-temperature conditions typical of rail service, and what adoption barriers might exist (cost, supply chain availability, compatibility with existing maintenance practices, and any implications for equipment reliability).
Administratively, the opportunity was issued as cooperative agreements rather than standard grants, which generally signals that FRA expected to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaborating on study design, reviewing interim deliverables, coordinating with other federal partners, or shaping reporting to satisfy statutory requirements. The program fell under CFDA 20.313 (Railroad Research and Development) and the activity category of Transportation. The solicitation anticipated two total awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $700,000 and an award ceiling of $700,000, meaning the combined or single largest award could be up to that amount, while the award floor was listed as $0 (a common administrative placeholder rather than a practical target). Cost sharing or matching was not required, lowering the barrier for applicants who could propose strong technical work without needing to contribute non-federal funds.
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to any type of applicant entity, subject to any additional clarifications that might have been included in the full announcement. In practice, this kind of open eligibility typically allows participation from universities, private firms, nonprofit research organizations, industry partnerships, or rail operators, provided they can carry out the research and comply with federal assistance requirements. The posting date was May 13, 2010, with the closing date extended to June 21, 2010, and an archive date of July 21, 2010, reflecting a relatively short application window typical of targeted research solicitations.
Overall, this FRA funding opportunity was aimed at producing actionable research outputs that could inform federal understanding and guidance on alternative fuels and environmentally preferable lubricants in the rail sector. By tying the work directly to mandates in the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 and requiring consultation across FRA, DOE, and EPA for the biofuel study, the solicitation framed these grants as part of a broader federal effort to evaluate environmental and energy innovations in transportation while accounting for the operational demands and technical constraints unique to railroad equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY 2010 Railroad System Issues Research and Development Program, Funding Opportunity Number FR-RRD-10-010, run by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation. It was a discretionary grant competition intended to fund near-term, practical research related to locomotive operations.
What type of awards were offered?
The solicitation anticipated cooperative agreements (not standard grants). Cooperative agreements generally indicate the FRA expected substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaborating on study design, reviewing interim deliverables, coordinating with other federal partners, and/or shaping reporting to meet statutory requirements.
How many awards were expected?
The announcement anticipated two separate cooperative-agreement awards.
What were the two research topics being funded?
The opportunity was designed to fund two distinct projects focused on locomotive operations:
- A Locomotive Biofuel Study focused on biofuel use in locomotives and other diesel-powered railroad equipment.
- A study of bio-based, readily biodegradable lubrication technologies for railroad applications.
What was the overall purpose of these projects?
Together, the projects were meant to produce credible, data-driven findings on whether and how environmentally friendlier alternative fuels and lubricants could be adopted across freight and passenger rail without compromising safety, reliability, or performance.
What law authorized the Locomotive Biofuel Study?
The Locomotive Biofuel Study was authorized by Title IV, Section 404 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Division B of Public Law 110-432).
Did the biofuel study require coordination with other federal agencies?
Yes. Under the authorizing statute, FRA was directed to conduct the biofuel study in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. This signals the work was expected to consider railroad operating realities alongside energy policy and emissions/environmental implications.
What was the biofuel study trying to determine?
The core purpose was to determine the extent to which freight railroads, Amtrak, and other passenger rail operators could use biofuel blends to power locomotives and other diesel-fueled vehicles.
What kinds of issues would the biofuel study likely examine (based on the description)?
Based on the description, the study implied an assessment of blended-fuel compatibility and operational impacts, such as:
- Compatibility of biofuel blends (for example, biodiesel blends) with locomotive engines and fuel systems
- Operational performance across duty cycles
- Fuel handling and storage considerations
- Cold-weather operability
- Maintenance impacts
- Feasibility of adoption across different rail operating environments
What constraints did the opportunity suggest the biofuel work should account for?
The description indicates the work was intended to be realistic about adoption constraints, including factors like existing engine certifications, warranties, infrastructure limitations, and variability in operating environments.
What law authorized the lubricant-focused study?
The lubrication technology study was authorized by Section 405 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Division B of Public Law 110-432).
What was the focus of the lubrication technology study?
It focused on the feasibility of using bio-based, readily biodegradable lubricants in freight and passenger rail settings, including locomotives, rolling stock, and other railroad equipment.
Why did the opportunity emphasize "readily biodegradable" lubricants?
The emphasis points to an environmental-performance objective, particularly for lubricants that may be released to the environment through leaks, spills, or routine equipment operation, including in environmentally sensitive areas.
What kinds of performance and feasibility questions were implied for the lubricant study?
The description suggests feasibility would typically include whether bio-based lubricants can meet railroad performance requirements and practical adoption considerations, such as:
- Wear protection
- Thermal stability
- Oxidation resistance
- Water tolerance
- Seal compatibility
- Service life
- Behavior under high-load and variable-temperature rail conditions
- Potential barriers such as cost, supply chain availability, compatibility with maintenance practices, and reliability implications
What was the CFDA number for this program?
The program fell under CFDA 20.313, Railroad Research and Development.
What was the activity/category area for this funding?
The activity category listed was Transportation.
How much funding was available?
The solicitation listed an estimated total funding amount of $700,000.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was listed as $700,000, meaning the combined or single largest award could be up to $700,000.
What was the minimum award amount?
The award floor was listed as $0, which is commonly used as an administrative placeholder rather than a practical target amount.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching was not required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to any type of applicant entity (subject to any additional clarifications that might have been included in the full announcement).
What kinds of organizations might "unrestricted eligibility" include (as implied by the description)?
Based on the description, open eligibility typically allows participation from universities, private firms, nonprofit research organizations, industry partnerships, and rail operators, as long as they can carry out the research and comply with federal assistance requirements.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date was May 13, 2010.
What was the application deadline?
The closing date was extended to June 21, 2010.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was July 21, 2010.
How long was the application window?
From the May 13, 2010 posting date to the June 21, 2010 closing date, the application window was relatively short, consistent with a targeted research solicitation.
What did FRA appear to be trying to achieve with these cooperative agreements?
The opportunity framed the work as actionable research intended to inform federal understanding and potential guidance on alternative fuels and environmentally preferable lubricants for rail, while accounting for technical constraints and operational demands unique to railroad equipment.
How were freight and passenger rail considered in this opportunity?
The biofuel study explicitly referenced freight railroads, Amtrak, and other passenger rail operators. The lubricant study similarly focused on feasibility for both freight and passenger rail settings, including multiple categories of rail equipment.
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